Bhubaneswar: Reliance Foundation hosted several multi-location audio conferences and YouTube live sessions for thousands of farmers, Livestock farmers and in-land fish farmers on Cyclone Path, Pre and post cyclone crop protection measures, precautionary measures for livestock farmers and inland fish farmers in 16 Districts of Odisha with Technical support of KVK Nayagarh, KVK Dhenkanal, KVK Cuttack, Department of Agriculture, Animal Resources Development Department and Department of Fisheries.
RF trained youth volunteers, secretary and members from 16 Cyclone shelter management and maintenance committees from Baleshwar, Bhadrak and Puri District, along with key officials from Rural Development Centre, Bahanaga; Triveni Trust Bhadrak, Pragati Jubak Sangha, Bhadrak sensitized farmers and common people on categories of warning in district, Cyclone response mechanism by State/District admiration, Control room detail, Cyclone response preparedness and pre cyclone crop protection measures with support of Civil defense Organization Bhubaneswar. More than 600 queries related to the cyclone were addressed.
Reliance Foundation also disseminated advisories to alert the marine fishermen on not venturing into the sea and alerted the farmers to harvest the crops and safeguard the harvested produce. Farmers were also advised to postpone the intercultural operation and house the livestock safe.
Mobile audio advisories and alerts broadcasted to 6, 37,000 farmers in 20 Districts of Odisha. These included advisories to harvest the mature paddy crop before Friday, strictly avoid field drying of harvested paddy, keep the harvested produce at safer place and drain out excess water in standing rice crop by making alleys (Pahi). Farmers were also advised to postpone sowing of the rabi crops and avoid intercultural operations, spraying and fertilization and irrigation activities in rabi crops. Vegetable farmers were advised and guided to cover the vegetable nursery with white polythene and provide proper support to banana, papaya plant and vegetables which are more vulnerable to high wind.
Similar mobile audio advisories and alerts were broadcasted to around 2,00,000 livestock farmers in 20 Districts, advising them to keep the animal resources indoors and safe place, while keeping feed for 3-5 days, in case of any emergency. During the interactive sessions, experts also advised for repair the sheds for loose structure and keeping fodder at safe place to avoid spoilage from rainfall.
Reliance Foundation also broadcasted mobile audio advisories and alert to over 60,000 inland fish farmers in 13 districts. Inland fish farmers were advised to reduce the water level in the tanks to prevent overflow and clear all the drainage channels near the pond or in the farming cluster to facilitate free flow of water. In low lying areas farmers were advised to install fencing using fish net to avoid any escape of stock. While advising to reduce or do not feed on the day of heavy clouds and rains, those who planned to transport and release fish and prawn seed over next few days, were suggested to postpone the plan until cyclone passes away.
Disseminating mobile audio advisories/alert broadcasted to over 30,000 marine fish farmers in 6 Districts, marine fishermen were advised to not venture into the sea and safeguard net, boats and fishing assets.
Advisories were issued to farmers and fishermen in collaboration with multiple knowledge partners including IMD, INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services), Agro Met Field Unit (AMFUs); District Agromet Unit (DAMU), WorldFish Cuttack, Directorate of Fisheries, Cuttack, Directorate of Extension Education, OUAT, KVKs in Cuutack, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Angul, Animal Resources Development Department and Department of Fisheries.
-OdishaAge
